September 10 2007, 09:18

Russia: new greenhouse complex to be launched in Sverdlovsk region

Closed Joint-Stock company "Teplychnoye", the member of "UGMK-Agro" starts constructing new greenhouse complex in the settlement Sadoviy. The market players are sure that the entrance of a large vegetable producer let them increase the market independence from the supplied products.

The total cost of the project is estimated to the sum worth RUR 800 mln. The first stage of the construction of a new complex of "Teplychnoye" company will cost RUR 220 mln. There is a plan to finish construction in August 2008. The whole project will be paid back in seven years.

"The geologic prospecting and excavation are taking place now on the plot of the future complex", Konstantin Chelovechkov, the Deputy Marketing Director of "UGMK-Agro" informed.

"Teplychnoye" company signed the contract with Dutch company V & V Agricultural Greenhouses B.V on the supplies of prefabricated elements and equipment for the construction of a new complex in the settlement Sadoviy. The specialized construction company "Agroinzhstroy" (Obninsk) is the general contractor of the project; this company has experience in the construction of greenhouse complexes on the territory of Russia. The size of land plot is 12 ha, i.e. twice as large than the square occupied by the presently operating greenhouses (located on Kosmonavtov prospect in Yekaterinburg). The greenhouses will be equipped with the system of the atomized CA system to support the optimal temperature and humidity for the plants. The enterprise specialists also plan to implement the system of supplementary lighting, which let them extend the fruitage period. Vegetable yield now totals to 30 kg/sq.m. in "Teplychnoye" company. "UGMK-Agro" company plans to achieve 50 kg/sq.m. in a new complex. Consequently, according to estimations of DK, the annual potential production capacity of the complex may reach up to 60,000 tons of vegetables (if the planted acreage is 12 ha). The most part of cultivation areas in the greenhouses will be allocated for cucumber and tomato production in these greenhouses.

According to the data of Yekaterinburg State Administration, vegetable consumption equaled to 112,900 tons in 2005 (the actual demand was estimated to reach 123,000 tons). The agricultural organizations of the city produced 13,500 tons of vegetables; the private household farms and orchards produced 24,300 tons of vegetables, and 75,100 tons of vegetables were supplied from the neighboring areas and regions.

There are only three large greenhouse complexes able to produce vegetables the whole year round on the territory of Sverdlovsk region. They are the greenhouse complex of "Uraltransgaz" in Syrset (0.7 hа), "Teplychniy Kombinat "Kedrovskiy" LLC (1.5 ha) in Berezovskiy and "Teplychniy" CJSC in Yekaterinburg, according to the detailed information provided by Alexander Dunin, the Executive Director of "Vegetable Producers Union". "There are also agricultural enterprises, which maintain greenhouses to produce transplants, and grow cucumbers and tomatoes there in summer. The largest of them are "Sosnovskoye" enterprise, "Sverdlovskoye" company and others. But vegetable production under cover is not their field of specialization, they operate in other directions", Mr. Dunin adds.

Igor Kartuzov, the owner of "Kartofel" LLC estimates that in average 50% of vegetables are sold through the retail chains, 30% - through markets and 20% through individual shops. Oksana Malakhova, the Commercial Director of "Pervouralskiy" complex is sure: new greenhouse of "UGMK-Agro" won't overload the market. Up to 50% of cucumbers and tomatoes are supplied from the other regions, she says. According to the data of Alexander Dunin, vegetables come from Krasnodar, Volgograd and other cities to the region. "If there is one more player, vegetable cost will probably be fixed on a relatively stable level, the seasonal price fluctuations will be reduced. We won't depend on the products supplied from the other regions", Mr. Dunin believes.